A Minnesota federal judge, U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson, on Monday, Dec. 21, agreed to a motion by attorneys for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe for a summary judgment on standing regarding a breakdown in the law enforcement agreement between tribal police and Mille Lacs County as part of the tribal policeâs 2017 lawsuit against the County. Judge Nelson did not issue an opinion on the Reservation boundaries, which is also part of the lawsuit, but the subject will be heard on March 15 in court.
An attorney for the County, Randy Thompson of Nolan, Thompson, Leighton & Tataryn, said there may be an appeal made by the county attorney or sheriff. Thompson expressed his disappointment with the ruling, adding that the court may not have fully considered the conflicting factual record in reaching its conclusion, but he is hopeful that the core issue of the Reservation boundaries will be resolved in favor of the Countyâs position in a future court hearing.